Life and Death label boss’ DJ Tennis has unveiled his understated new remix of ‘Amsterdam’ , the debut single released last week by Sicilian musician Luigi Orofino. DJ Tennis’ adaptation stays true to the original while boosting the kicks but keeping the loose samba magic. The pair met in Mexico, and the kindred spirits immediately hit it off. After bouncing versions back and forth between Siracusa and also a studio in Paris, the final version was realized, full of floaty Rhodes chords and cavaquinho thrills that will lighten any dance. It’s a testament to Amsterdam’s catchiness that many of Luigi’s friends are involved – the song is reflected in the people it brings together, and in this sense, it’s as much about the art of encounters as it is about the city.
Amsterdam might sound effortless, but the laid-back groove and easy atmosphere that Luigi has conjured up isn’t something you can just pluck out of thin air. It’s taken everyone involved several years of playing together to get just the right marinade of Brazilian rhythm and Mediterranean musicianship. It’s a flavor they’ve mastered while on the road with Erlend Øye as La Comitiva, and their touring schedule has become a way of life. When the travel ban was finally lifted, Luigi headed straight to his friends in Amsterdam, and that freedom to travel once more inspired this song. That trip put the color back into life, and the result was this timeless slice of sunny samba rock.
Buy / Stream ‘Amsterdam’ (DJ Tennis Remix) here
